31 D. With the answer below, dilute ... and a hint to the four longest answers: WATER.
59 D. See the answer above: DOWN.
This is, literally, how to dilute.
3 D. Mellophone's orchestral cousin: FRENCH HORN. Can you tell which is which? Similarly pitched, I guess. Not my brass niche, so that's all I have to say.
9 D. Inn for traveling students: YOUTH HOSTEL. A type of short-term low cost accommodation aimed at young people on hiking or bicycling tours.
25 D. Not being forthcoming about: WITH HOLDING. As with information.
33 D. Home on the range: RANCH HOUSE. The home located on a ranch property - a large area dedicated to raising livestock.
Each of these contains the letters H HO spanning the two word theme fill. HHO = H2O = WATER, in a vertical answer, hence WATER DOWN. The chemist in me would prefer HOH, but that is just a wet nit.
Hi Gang. JazzBumpa here. This theme of hidden chemical symbolism threw me for a while. Don't feel bad if you couldn't find it. Now that we can hold our water, let's move forward.
Across:
1. Tip politely: DOFF. As one's hat.
5. Friendship: AMITY. A friendly relationship.
10. Approved: OKED. Gave the OK to.
14. Taj Mahal locale: AGRA. City in India.
15. Longtime work animal: BURRO. A small donkey used as a pack animal.
16. Michelin product: TIRE. For your car or truck.
17. Competition with runners: MEET. At the track.
18. It may be bid: ADIEU. A fond farewell.
19. Target Field MLBer: TWIN. Will there ever be baseball again?
20. Kind of code: PENAL. I've seen this in a few puzzles recently. A code of laws concerning crimes and offenses and their punishment.
22. Tense tennis situation: SET POINT. Opportunity to win or lose
24. Talons: CLAWS. Bird's feet
27. Leveling wedge: SHIM. Space filler used to align items, such as cabinets.
28. Rhine whine: ACH. Clever clue, but I think exclamation would be more accurate than whine.
30. Opinion: VIEW. The way I see it.
32. Mass media magnate: HEARST. William Randolph [1893 - 1951] was an American publisher and politician.
36. "Harrumph!": BAH. Humbug!
37. Gillette brand: ATRA. Men's facial razor.
38. Showy: ORNATE. Highly decorated.
39. Old Testament prophet: AMOS. One of the 12 minor prophets. He spoke of justice, economic disparity and divine judgment.
41. Strong aversions: HATES. Things you can't stand.
43. Clothes closer: SNAP. Alternative to buttons and zippers.
44. High-ranking angel: SERAPH. A winged celestial beings with a fiery passion for doing God's good work
46. Rebuke from Caesar: ET TU. And you? Bummer!
48. Only NFL team without a helmet logo, on scoreboards: CLE. The Browns.
49. Big shot: HONCHO. Derived from the Japanese word meaning "leader of the squad," absorbed into English due to the large U.S. military presence in Japan after WWII.
50. Snorkeling site: REEF. A ridge of jagged rock, coral, or sand just above or below the surface of the sea.
51. Half a bray: HEE. Other half is HAW
52. Rock's mate?: ROLL. Type of popular music.
54. Splatter in a puddle: SLOSH. The sound of a boot stomped in water.
56. Helped remember: REMINDED.
60. Diving action: SWOOP. Action of a bird with talons.
63. Day when 46-Across was spoken: IDES. Of March
64. Key material: IVORY. Piano keys. But not any more. Today, the keys are made from the same wood at the sound board - usually some variety of spruce, because it is resistant to warping. The keys are then covered with an acrylic coating.
67. Subtle glow: AURA.
68. Essence: GIST. Core meaning
69. More contemporary: NEWER. The latest. Is it the greatest?
70. Bygone despot: TSAR. This is Russian to judgment
71. Night at an inn, e.g.: STAY. No reason to be HOSTLE
72. Blokes: GENTS. Guys
73. Conducted, as a meeting: HELD. Organized, set the agenda and invited attendees.
Down:
1. Like many a cellar: DAMP. Containing unwanted moisture.
2. Fancy molding: OGEE. In the shape of an S curve.
4. Like the most serious error: FATAL. Ruins the entire project.
5. Lawyer's org.: ABA. American Bar Assn.
6. Wasp nest component: MUD.
7. Pupil's place: IRIS. The eyes have it.
8. Beech and birch: TREES.
10. Hassock cousins: OTTOMANS. Tuffets.
11. Fuzzy fruit: KIWI.
12. "__ go bragh!": ERIN. Ireland forever.
13. Bad impression: DENT. As, frex, on your car's fender.
21. Soap brand: LAVA. Contains pumice particles for scouring action.
23. Embarkation location: PIER. On the waterfront.
26. Antitoxins: SERA. A substance that counteracts a specific toxin.
28. Embarrass: ABASH.
29. Hitchcock film trademark: CAMEO. A brief, often uncredited and usually silent, appearance by a well known person in a production.
34. Cliched: STALE. Hackneyed.
35. Home on the range: TEPEE. Temporary dwelling of Native Americans on the great plains.
40. Room for vestments: SACRISTY.
42. Nice saisons: ETES. Summers in France.
45. Sound prefix: PHON-. As in PHONICS or PHONETICS.
47. Alien craft: UFOS. Fictional interstellar craft.
53. Flood deterrent: LEVEE. A naturally occurring or artificially constructed ridge along a water course or coast line.
55. Mower's path: SWATH. The space cut by the motion of a mowing machine.
56. Readies for sailing: RIGS. Prepares the the system of ropes, cables and chains, which support a sailing ship or sail boat's masts, including shrouds and stays, halyards, braces, sheets and vangs.
57. Cut text, e.g.: EDIT.
58. City near Phoenix: MESA. In AZ.
61. Like some vaccines: ORAL. As opposed to injected
62. Oater bro: PARD. Short for Partner.
65. No longer working: Abbr.: RET. As I have been for 11 1/2 YRS.
66. Mos. and mos.: YRS. Twelve Mos at a time.
That wraps up another Wednesday. Hope you were able to stay dry.
Cool regards!
JzB
